September 2026 » ImmigrationUSA

Employment Based Visa

Visa Bulletin for October 2026

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) published the October 2026 Visa Bulletin, marking the beginning of fiscal year 2027 and the release of a new annual allocation of employment-based and family-based immigrant visa numbers. One of the most significant developments for applicants born in India is the renewed availability of

September 29, 2026

immigration policy

Third Country Removals Lead to Uncertain Future for Removees

Nika is a 32 year old from Iran. She now lives in the Central African Republic, a country she had never visited before the U.S. deported her there. She told the Guardian that she rarely leaves home and can’t go anywhere without a driver arranged by an aid group. She

September 28, 2026

DHS

Public Charge Rule Challenged in Court by Multiple States

Twenty-two states together with the District of Columbia have brought a lawsuit against the U.S. government concerning its public charge rule for green card applicants, arguing that the rule discourages eligible immigrants and their families from obtaining public benefits. At the same time, a group of cities, with New York

September 24, 2026

State Dept.

Social Media Vetting Expanded

Starting on October 1, 2026, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) will be extending its social media vetting program to cover applicants for I, TN, and TD visas. The DOS made the announcement on September 18 and advises those affected to make their social media profiles either public or open.

September 24, 2026

ICE

ICE Data Sharing Impacts Trust in IRS

In April 2025, the IRS and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) signed an agreement that let Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) ask the tax agency for the addresses of people it believed were in the country unlawfully. On September 8, 2026, a federal appeals court ruled that the way

September 24, 2026

DHS

Implementation of Fixed Period for Student Visas Delayed by Federal Court

A federal court in Massachusetts blocked the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) rule eliminating “duration of status” for students and exchange visitors. The nationwide injunction came on September 14, 2026, one day before the rule was scheduled to come into force, and it applies to F-1 student visas, J-1 exchange

September 17, 2026

ICE

Undocumented Workers of Ground Zero Targeted by ICE

Twenty-five years after September 11th, some elderly immigrants who helped clear debris at Ground Zero now face another fear: detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). An estimated 2,000 to 6,000 undocumented immigrants helped with the cleanup and rescue operations in Lower Manhattan after 9/11. Many of these individuals didn’t

September 17, 2026

children of immigrants

How Immigration Enforcement Impacts Children of Immigrant Families

Immigration enforcement significantly influences the development of children in immigrant families across the United States, with its effects extending beyond households directly targeted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Some children experienced detention themselves, while a much larger number witnessed a parent’s removal. Pediatricians and child welfare experts are closely

September 15, 2026

Birthright Citizenship

DHS Proposal Would Widen Green Card Availability for U.S.-Born Children

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued an interim final rule amending its regulations allowing noncitizen children of foreign government employees born in the United States to register as lawful permanent residents. This rule amends existing regulations in line with the recent Executive Order 14418. Basically, the interim final rule

September 10, 2026

Department of State

Diversity Visa Program Resumes

As of August 28, 2026, the Diversity Visa (DV) program is back up and running. The U.S. Department of State (DOS) confirmed this. The move complies with a court order related to the ongoing lawsuit in Medani et al. v. Trump et al. Background The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

September 10, 2026